Keith C. NelsonLarned, KS

Keith Charles Nelson was born on September 5, 1929, in Great Bend, Kansas to Charlie and Ruby Nelson.   He was raised on a farm in Walnut Township, Pawnee County, Kansas.  Keith prepared for his career as a farmer, working alongside his father and taking on farm chores in his early teens.

Keith was a graduate of Larned High School where he met the love of his life and future wife, Wanda.  They were married in 1948 and immediately set out to establish their own farm on the same quarter that his grandfather, Lars Nelson, homesteaded in 1887.

Keith and Wanda had their small farm well established in 1954, when he received a greeting from his Uncle Sam requesting Keith’s service in the U.S. Army.  Keith’s army service included just over a year stationed in Stuttgart, Germany.  Wanda joined Keith for most of his deployment and the two returned from Germany with an extra package, their daughter Linda.

After his discharge, Keith and Wanda returned to their farm.  Over the following decades, they grew their operations until 2008 when Keith retired from farming.

Throughout his life, Keith was active in many organizations and clubs, most related to agriculture.  He was a life member of the Elks and a member of the National Rifle Association.  He was a member of the Pawnee County Farmers Union where he served as an officer, including a member of the board of directors for fifteen years and president for five years.   Keith’s Farmers Union activities included Kansas State positions including the State Executive Board for five years and chairman of the Water Policy Program.

Keith was also an active member of the Kansas and National Wheat Growers Association.

Keith was appointed to the Kansas Wheat Commission, the Agricultural Council of America Board, and the U.S. Wheat Associates Executive Board.  While serving these organizations, Keith served as a delegate to a U.S. Wheat Associates trade mission to Asia touring eleven countries promoting U.S. wheat.

Keith’s service also included the Pawnee County Coop Board of Directors, Pawnee County Extension Executive Board, and Walnut Township Treasurer.  He was instrumental in starting and staffing the Green Thumb Program in Pawnee County at the Santa Fe Trail Center.  These activities led to Keith being chosen to attend the White House Conference on Rural Aging in 1980.

Keith’s service earned him awards and other recognition.  He received the Kansas Bankers award for Conservation in 1972, and the Outstanding Farmers Union President in 1976.

Keith’s retirement from farming did not mean he retired from activity.  Having earned his pilot license in the 1970’s, Keith set out to building his own airplane from a kit.  Although he never flew the plane himself, he was delighted to see it fly off from the farm.

Keith is preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Ruby Nelson, and his wife, Wanda.  He is survived by his daughter, Linda (Nelson) Motley and husband Ed, grandsons Zach Motley and wife Karen, Brad Motley and wife Emily, five great grandchildren, Addison Motley, Lorelei Motley, Hannah Motley, Preston Motley and Caroline Motley, and special friends, Daisy Atteberry, Kevin Atteberry, Sheila Herman, Bud and Brenda Johnson, and Dave and Lynzie Snyder.

Keith’s warm smile and sense of humor will be missed by many.

Visitation will be on Sunday, January 25th at Beckwith Mortuary from 1 to 6 PM with family present from 2 to 4 PM.  Services will be on Monday January 26th at 9:00 AM at Beckwith Mortuary with Reverend Angela DeFisher presiding, burial at Larned Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations may be given to Larned United Methodist Church or National WW II Museum, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

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